March Madness bracket 2025: AI picks every Sweet 16 game in men's NCAA Tournament
While upsets are supposed to be one of the biggest trends in March Madness, the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament has been somewhat underwhelming in that regard. As we approach the Sweet 16, there is only one double-digit seed remaining − No. 10 Arkansas.
In fact, across all four regions, the Razorbacks are the only seed lower than No. 6 left standing. All four No. 1 seeds remain in contention. Three No. 2 seeds are still alive, and three No. 4 seeds were able to advance as well. A classic "pick every favorite" bracket would've done pretty well in your office pool.
However, just because there's been arguably less madness so far, that doesn't mean it can't kick into high gear at any moment. And what better tool is there to predict madness than artificial intelligence? Using Microsoft Copilot AI chatbot, Paste BN Sports has compiled predictions for every Sweet 16 game. Given the prevalence of AI and its wide usage in bracket creation at the start of the tournament, it's only fair that we give it a shot at predicting the tournament's third round. Here's what it had to say.
March Madness predictions: AI simulation of every Sweet 16 game
South Region
- No. 1 Auburn 80, No. 5 Michigan 72
The AI pointed at Auburn's elite defense as their biggest reason to beating Michigan. "Auburn allows only 69.4 points per game, which is better than Michigan's defense, giving them an edge in controlling the game."
- No. 2 Michigan State 76, No. 6 Ole Miss 72
Despite the score prediction, the AI chatbot does believe that Ole Miss can emerge victorious. It writes, "Michigan State's strong defense and consistent performance throughout the season give them a slight edge. However, Ole Miss has shown they can start games strong and could potentially pull off an upset."
East Region
- No. 1 Duke 79, No. 4 Arizona 70
AI is giving Duke the edge thanks to their strong rebounding. This is an odd assessment, given that Duke averages fewer rebounds per game (38.6) than Arizona (39.6).
- No. 2 Alabama 84, No. 6 BYU 78
Copilot believes Alabama's high-octane offense gives them the edge, specifically citing Mark Sears' 18.6 points per game as the biggest game-changer in this matchup.
Midwest Region
- No. 1 Houston 75, No. 4 Purdue 64
Given Houston's slow pace of play, it's no wonder that AI expects this to be a lower-scoring affair. The bot noted that the Houston defense also ranks second nationally in opposing field goal percentage and expanded on that note, claiming that Purdue's guard play will need to be elite if they want to beat the Cougars.
- No. 2 Tennessee 76, No. 3 Kentucky 73
Copilot had two key points in this prediction: three-point shooting and turnovers. Given how close this game is expected to be, if either team can get hot from beyond the arc, they'll have a massive advantage down the stretch. At the same time, Tennessee's defense has been one of the best in the league at forcing turnovers. If Kentucky cannot keep pace, they could very well fall behind early.
West Region
- No. 1 Florida 77, No. 4 Maryland 74
Anyone expecting Florida to dominate this game could be very disappointed. Copilot believes the Terrapins' ability to grab rebounds will give them an advantage heading into this contest, but ultimately, the Gators will come out on top.
- No. 3 Texas Tech 78, No. 10 Arkansas 70
It appears the Cinderella story ends here. The Red Raiders will come out victorious, according to AI. The bot notes that Arkansas has committed over 12 turnovers per game on the year, and when paired with Texas Tech's 8.5 steals per game, the pressure that the Red Raiders will put on the Razorbacks may be too much to overcome.